biography
| name: |
Mutsuhito
|
| |
Meiji Tenno
|
pronunciation:
[mutsuheetoh]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1852–1912)
|
| biography:
| Emperor of Japan (1867–1912) who became the symbol of Japan's modernization, born in Kyoto, C Japan, son of the titular Emperor, Komei, whom he succeeded. Within a year he had overthrown the last of the shoguns, who had exercised dictatorial authority in Japan for 700 years. His long reign saw the rapid political and military westernization of Japan. The feudal system was abolished in 1871; most restrictions on foreign trade were removed; a constitution providing for an advisory cabinet and an imperial Diet was promulgated in 1889; and a navy was created on the British model and an army on the German. Military success against China in 1894 and 1895 was followed by Japan's victories in the Russo–Japanese War (1904–5), and by the economic penetration of Korea and Manchuria. |
|
|
